Pakistan never refused aid: Musharraf

Refuting suggestions that Pakistan was reluctant to take aid from India for quake victims, President Pervez Musharraf on Tuesday said that soldiers from across the LoC cannot, however, be accepted. "An impression was being created that Pakistan was refusing aid. We have not refused anything. We welcome all the aid and are grateful to all those who are sending it," Musharraf said in his address to the nation.

While thanking Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and India for the aid being sent to the quake victims, he said, however, "We cannot accept soldiers. They should know this due sensitivity. Across the LoC we cannot accept, but will accept anything India sends."

He said Pakistan took it up with India on Monday after seeing reports in the foreign media that India was ready to offer helicopters. "Yesterday we said we will accept the offer. If you give the helicopter and our pilots fly them it is acceptable to us," he said without referring to India expressing inability to provide choppers without Indian pilots.